Inadequate Security
Victims of home invasions, robberies, sex assaults and other crimes may be able to recover compensation for their injuries from the apartment, store or other business where they crime occurred. In these cases, it is important to show how the location was not properly secured, or that the owner of the business was negligent in some way that made the crime easier to commit.
Not every crime victim will have a strong claim for recovery, but we have helped those who do. In one case, our firm was able to recover a multi-million dollar verdict for our client whose family member was killed during an apartment break-in.
Below are some of our notes on recent cases involving inadequate and negligent security cases in Georgia.
Housing Authority Must Pay $1.5 Million to Family of Murder Victim
In October 2011, a Newton County jury found the Covington Housing Authority 90% at fault for the 2006 shooting death of twenty-year-old Tammara “Erica” Reed after it leased a housing unit to Reed’s murderer despite his criminal record. The jury awarded Newton’s minor children $1.5 million, half for the full value of her life and half for the pain and suffering of her children. In September 2006, Reed and her sister borrowed the car of Willie Gunn, who lived near them ...
Day Care Abuse at Greenfield Academy in Paulding County Leads to Criminal Charges and Likely Civil Suit
Angeles Westmoreland, a day care teacher at Greenfield Academy in Hiram, Georgia has been arrested and charged with battery after multiple bruises and scratches were found on one of her students. According to he child's parents, the bruises were located from the child's "head to his waist." Details of the alleged abuse have not been provided by law enforcement because the case is still under investigation. We anticipate this case will lead to a civil suit against Greenfield Academy, ...
Inadequate security decision by Georgia appeals court upholds jury verdict against bar
In Georgia, a bar can sometimes be held liable for injuries suffered by bystanders when a fight breaks out. In Mulligan's Bar & Grill v. Stanfield, the Court of Appeals affirmed a jury verdict in favor of Bruce Stanfield who filed suit against Mulligan’s Bar & Grill and the owner of the bar after being injured on the premises. A fight between two other patrons of the bar ended with Mr. Stanfield receiving severe facial injuries due to a beer ...
